Releasing device.



JAMES IRWIN, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

RELEASING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed December 14, '1911.

Patented June 25, 1912.

Serial No. 665,736.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES IRWIN, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of San Francisco and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Releasing Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a releasing device.

It is the object of the invention to provide a device for releasing suspended bodies and quickly detach them from their mountings, and which is especially adapted for use in disconnecting life boats from the tackle or davits from which they are suspended.

A further object is to provide a releasing device which is simple and economical in construction, efiicient and reliable in operation, and which is applicable to a variety of uses.

Other objects will appear in the following specifications.

The invention consists of the parts and the construction and combination of parts, as hereinafter more fully described and claimed, having reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a view in elevation with parts broken away of a modified form of the invention. line X X Fig. 1.

In the drawing A represents a casing of any suitable description which may be attached to a cable or other means of support through a swivel 2 mounted on the upper end of the casing A.

Pivotally mounted at 3 in the casing A is a vertically disposed bill 4, the lower end of which is hooked to engagea swinging bar 14 in the lower open end of the casing A; which is engaged by the bill 4 as shown in Fig. 1, when the bar is in a horizontal position. The upper end of the bill 4 is normally held in a vertical position by means of a segment 7 which is pivoted at 8 to the casing A; the curved face of which segment normally contacts a friction roller 9 mounted on the upper end of the bill 4.

The hooked portion of the hill 4 is eccentric to the pivot 3 so that a weight or pull upon the bar 14 will tend to throw the upper end of the bill 4 inwardly to bear against the segment 7. The segment 7 is normally retained in such position that its curved face will be disposed adjacent the upper end of the bill 4, by means of a spring Fig. 2 is a detail section on the 1 0 which is here shown as connected to the upper edge of the segment and to the top of the casing A in such manner as to exert an upward pull on the segment 7 \Vhen it is desired to disengage the bar, 14 from the bill 4, the segment 7 is rocked on its pivot 8 in the direction of the arrow, Fig. 1, until the curved portion of the segment passes over the upper end of the bill 4, thereby releasing the latter. The segment 7 may be rocked in suitable manner; a cord 12 being here shown as employed for that purpose. The cord is attached to the outer end of an arm which is secured to the shaft 8, which carries the segment so that when the cord is pulled the segment is rocked in the direction of the arrow, and in opposition to the spring, 10, which is connected to the segment. When the curved portion of the segment 7 passes over the upper end of the bill 4, the latter is moved forward and downward on its pivot 3 by the pull exerted through the bar, 14 by the load carried on the ring 15. This action releases the hill 4 from the bar as shown in Fig. 1 and allows the bar to drop from the casing A thereby releasing the load carried on the block from its support. On releasing the cord 12 the segment 7 is rocked backward by the action of the spring 10 which carries the segment into the position indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, in which position the flat portion of the segment will be disposed above the outer end of the bill 4. The downward movement of the outer end of the bill 4 is limited by means of a stop which is here shown as formed by the side of the casing A against which the lower end of the bill 4 strikes shortly after the hook 6 is released.

The segment 7 is rocked by means of a lever 16 formed on the shaft 8 rockable in the casing A and on which the segment 7 is rigidly mounted. The bill 4 on being rocked as before described has its hooked portion withdrawn from beneath the outer end of the arm 14 as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1. This allows the arm 14 to drop into the vertical position shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 thereby releasing the link 15 and the load carried thereby. In restoring the arm 14 to its engaged position, the bill 4 is rocked on its pivot 3 in opposition to the segment 7 and spring 10, by means of a handle 17 formed on the lower portion of the dog 3; this being done after the arm 14. is raised to a position above the hooked portion of the bill 4. Means are provided for preventing the bill 4: being accidentally operated and is here shown as consisting of a removable pin 18 which is inserted in perforations 19 in the casing A and passed through .a perforation 20 in the bill t, in such manner as to lock the latter against movement. When it is desired to operate the device, the pin 18 is removed before the segment 7 is actuated.

It is manifest that this invention is applicable to a variety of uses and may be employed in any case where it is desired to quickly detach one member from another, such for instance as releasing life boats from the davits, and detaching boats from tow lines; the device being operable from a remote point by means of the cord 12, which may be of any desired length.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In a releasing apparatus, a casing open at the bottom, a weight supporting bar pivoted in the opening and adapted to swing from a horizontal to a vertical position, a bill fulcrumed intermediate of its length,

with the curved tip adapted to support the bar, a segment pivoted to contact with the upper end of the bill, said segment having a part cut away to form a chord, and means to turn the segment until the chord registers with and releases the upper end of the bill.

2. In a releasing apparatus, an open bottomed casing, a bar pivoted at one end, a bill by which the bar may be supported in a horizontal position, a fulcrum pin upon which the bill may turn, a roller in the up per end of the bill shank, a pivoted turnable segment by which the bill may be retained in position, said segment having a portion cut away to allow the bill to turn and release the bar, means by'which the segment may be turned to a release position, and a spring by which it may be turned to its normal holding position. I

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

JAMES IRWIN.

Witnesses CHARLES EDELMAN, V. P. HIGGINS.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. 0. 

